A68595:581
A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith
A brief and pithy sum of the Christian faith made in form of a confession, with a confutation of all such superstitious errors, as are contrary thereunto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of French by R.F.A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
London: printed by Richard Serll, 1565
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Wherefore to the end I may comprehend all these things in few words, we learn by the mouth of the faithful Ministers of God, which declare his word to the church, all that we have heretofore declared to be necessary to understand our misery and our salvation. And for as much as when the word of God is preached unto man, it is as if they spake unto insensible stones, therefore we must know that as God worketh to the external senses by his word pronounced by his Ministers, even so he worketh inwardly by his infinite power, that is to say, by his holy spirit, whose office consisteth in these effects here following.
Wherefore to the ende I may comprehende all these things in few wordes, we learne by the mouth of the faithfull Ministers of God, which declare his woorde to the church, al that we haue heretofore declared to be necessarie to vnderstande our myserie and our saluation. And for as much as when the word of God is preached vnto man, it is as if they spake vnto insensible stones, therfore we must know that as God worketh to the external senses by his woorde pronounced by his Ministers, euen so hee worketh inwardly by his infinite power, that is to saye, by hys holy spirit, whose office consisteth in these effectes here following.
First, that as this part of Scripture (which is called the law) testifieth to our ears, that we be most miserable sinners deserving eternal death, even so the holy ghost teacheth the same, and sixeth it in our consciences (which otherwise were dull and insensible) and maketh that we be touched with the true & perfect feeling of our sins, which is the first ⟨p. 189⟩step or degree to salvation, as in the sickness of the body, it is needful above all things, for the recovering of health, to know that we be sick, and how grievous our sickness is, and what manner of sickness it is.
Fyrst, that as this parte of Scripture (which is called the law) testifieth to our eares, that wée bée most myserable sinners deseruing eternal death, euen so the holy ghost teacheth the same, and sixeth it in our consciences (whiche otherwyse were dull and insensyble) and maketh that we bée touched with the true & perfect féeling of our sinnes, which is the first